Tuesday, July 15, 2008

I split this up into TWO posts again (one right after another) because it's been 21 days since I last posted...YIKES...time is flying too fast! I'm still breathing, still beading, and trying to enjoy all summer has to offer. I'm finishing up two dotee dolls for friends and still working on one doll that needs to find her owner SOON!!! I am going to set a deadline for myself because I really need a little time to play with fabric and prepare for the BJP that starts in September and feel prepared!

I got this lovely shot last week, one early morning when I couldn't sleep and the sun was just coming up! I have never really thought to go grab my camera this early in the morning before...usually because I haven't had my coffee yet...but it was just beautiful! Due to the fact that I really am a night owl, I usually am asleep! However, with the wonderful... menopausal thing and age...I'm finding myself waking up more often in the middle of the night and sleeping less. Maybe because of that, I'll be getting more sunrise pictures! ;-)At the end of June, we had one evening of some WILD thunder and lightening! I have never tried to take pictures of lightening before and it isn't easy to catch the strike! Spencer and a friend were over for dinner that night and wanted to try too, so altogether we must have snapped 100 + pictures and kept maybe 10! But it was fun trying to catch the lightening from our deck. The lightening was across the valley at the time but switched and started coming our way and that was it...time to go in! But thought I'd share a couple with you.

My oldest son came home for 11 days from June 26th-July 6th! He took vacation time and was in a good friend's wedding on the 4th of July! His friend Bryan, has been a dear friend of his since grade school and is like another son in our home...among a few...and he is a sweetheart! We have never been to a 4th of July wedding before, but it was lovely! It was at a new golf course in Happy Valley up on a hill, near where we live, that overlooks the valley toward downtown Portland. Actually from our deck, across the valley in the last three pictures, Happy Valley is the hill you see! You could see the fireworks in the evening and there were tons of sparklers going off when the limo swept them away! It was a fun evening, even though it seemed a little odd getting dressed up and not doing the normal BBQ thing. Bittersweet, too, because the 4th of July was my mom's birthday. But we had a nice time and still made it home and watched the rest of the fireworks from our deck and enjoyed the rest of the evening.This handsome man is my oldest son, Blake! He is the son who lives and works near San Francisco. He has been away for two years now and when he comes home, mom is one happy camper! He is a lot of fun, a big teddy bear, and we all have a great time together. Both our boys are such great men! When we are together, we all have the best time with lots of laughs, memories, and fun! Blake and Spence are our pride and joy!!!May I introduce to you... Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Sager! They are a beautiful couple and they were both just beaming with JOY! They are both teachers (Bryan just received his Master's last year) and they are off to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for their honeymoon! I'm sharing a picture I've had for a LONG time and came across it in my desk recently. He is "Bacchus"...The Roman God of Wine..Dec. 1884. The photograph says..."a deep secret do I hide but I shall guard and keep it." Do you SEE the deep secret that he hides?? Let me know if you see it! ;-)

My friend Cathie, of Clevelandgirlie, held a contest on her blog not long ago for a beautiful padfolio and needle case that she made. The names of the players that chose the CORRECT amount of items and what they were, were put in a bowl and drawn to win the padfolio and all those that played...their names would be put in a bowl for a drawing for the needle case. My name was drawn by her beautiful daughter, Sabrina, that shares her mom's artistic talents, as the second place winner of the needle case! I was floored, to say the least, as 'luck' and 'win' are not something that normally happen to me. Her gift arrived last week and it is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Cathie hand painted the fabric with deep purple and copper metallic Lumiere textile paint, appliqued a gold painted and stamped sun on the front, the lining is an iridescent Dupioni silk, the needle pages are a beautiful gold wool, and just stunning thread work to match! It just shines, radiates warmth, and I love it! My needles will be traveling in STYLE...even when I'm at home! If you haven't seen Cathie's blog or her work, go check it out! I always enjoy visiting her and seeing what she is sharing and creating! She always ventures out there and tries something different and I love that! And, Cathie...Thank You Again!!! I will cherish this needle case and I am honored to have a piece of your beautiful heart art!!! ;-) My needles will be traveling in style!!! And, I don't want to embarrass myself on how terrible I did on the contest, however, I was one who picked the glasses...NOT a 'sewing' TOOL...but a 'tool' I need to sew with!!! LOL at myself! And, I don't know why I didn't recognize the shiny thimble!...H E L L O Lisa! ;-)

It is really not my style to share, per se, what I purchase...but I have decided to share a few things with you! I ordered these wonderful little gals from my friend Monica, at Girl Gone Thread Wild, quite awhile ago! She knew I was in no hurry for them, as my plate is full. I just adore the sitting dolls with their legs crossed and was looking for something special because I wanted to make a beaded face from a pattern I bought awhile ago, from Anne Hesse. Aren't these dollies just DARLING!!! They enjoyed coming outside on a sunny day for a little sunshine and their photo shoot! They are stitched so nicely and stuffed so well! If you ever desire any dolls, or other wonderful art, you need to visit Monica's Etsy shop! I'm so grateful that I did!!!And, YEP...I stumbled upon this pillow that I had fallen in love with from Monica's blog on her Etsy shop!!! GULP!!! Right in front of me was my favorite pillow! I told myself to hit PAY... right now... as it will be gone in another minute! I know...it was a little impulsive, but it is BEAUTIFUL!!! I believe there is a reason that I happened to click on her shop and find this pillow that she had just posted! It is so Monica, but it just had my name written all over it and I adore it! ;-)Then my friend, Bobbi, at Beading at the Beach, had this BEAUTIFUL beaded dread girl pin in her Etsy shop that I had been wanting to purchase for awhile! But my guilt of just indulging in MYSELF took over. Mark kept telling me to just do it and I kept watching her! Then one day, I was determined to adopt her and I went to her blog and her Etsy shop wasn't there! GULP!!! I wrote her and politely, ~wink~, asked her where her shop went and if she still happened to have the dread girl pin...because I wanted to purchase her! She arrived this past week and she is AWESOME!!! I love the color of the beads, her beautiful face, and her wild dreads! She just shimmers with light and I absolutely adore it! If you are interested in some beautiful bead jewelry or pins...go visit Bobbi's shop!!! You will be grateful that you did!!! ;-)

I don't normally shop so impulsively, however, I told myself...you know what...life is short...and I couldn't have spent money on anything else that could make me happier and that I absolutely will cherish! Each item on this post is from a friend that I treasure!!! Your art work is stunning and I am grateful to have a piece of each of you around me!

I've indulged in myself, am in need of nothing, and I'm very blessed! But now...I need to rein it in and get back to work!!! I hope you all...good friends...are well and enjoying the sunshine!